Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilots failure to slow the airplane down prior to turning off the runway, which resulted in damage to the airplane’s fuselage structure in the vicinity of the nose landing gear.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the pilot, he just purchased the airplane that day and was going to take it for a test flight before heading back to this home airport. He stated the flight, and the landing were normal, however; during the landing rollout, he applied the brakes to slow the airplane and make the next taxiway turnoff. The nose wheel started to shimmy during the turn and applied side loads to the nose landing gear linkage and structure. The pilot continued and taxied that airplane to the hangar, where he noticed the damage to the structure. He stated there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane and that he should have slowed the airplane down to a taxi speed before making a turn. Th pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage structure in the vicinity of the nose landing gear.